Window covering lift cord apparatus

ABSTRACT

A window covering lift cord apparatus installed at an upper rail of a window covering includes a first lift cord, a second lift cord and a tubular hollow body which is fastened to one end of the first lift cord. The second lift cord is threaded through the hollow body and extended outside the top portion and a threading portion of the hollow body. The first and second lift cords can be positioned through the hollow body to facilitate fast and accurate selection to achieve retraction or extension of a slat assembly of the window covering. The first and second lift cords also do not entangle with each other.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a window covering lift cord apparatus and particularly to a lift cord apparatus installed at one end of an upper rail of a window covering to facilitate user selection to retract or extend a slat assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many different types of window coverings on the market such as roman shades, Venetian blinds, pleated window coverings and the like. A conventional lift cord apparatus for a window covering A (referring to FIG. 1) installed on a door or window in houses usually includes two lift cords A21 to roll up or lower a slat assembly A2 to retract or extend the window covering A to block sunshine or achieve ornamental purpose. The two lift cords A21 are pendent from one end of an upper rail A1. However to roll up or lower the slat assembly A2 through the two lift cords A21 still has problems in practice. For instance users often have difficulty to quickly differentiate which of the two lift cords A21 is for rolling up or lowering the slat assembly A2. It takes some trial and error to make it right. Hence selection is confusing. Moreover, the two lift cords A21 often entangle with each other (referring to FIG. 2).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore the primary object of the present invention is to provide a window covering lift cord apparatus that can be easily installed at one end of an upper rail of a window covering and make selection of a first lift and second lift cord more accurate and easier to facilitate fast retraction or extension of the window covering.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hollow body in the window covering lift cord apparatus to facilitate modification of the existing window covering lift cord apparatus for users to facilitate selection of the first lift and second lift cords to achieve fast retraction or extension of the window covering.

To achieve the foregoing objects, the window covering lift cord apparatus according to the invention mainly includes a lift cord means installed at one end of a upper rail of a window covering. The lift cord means has a first lift cord and a second lift cord. The first lift cord has one end fastened to a tubular hollow body. The second lift cord is threaded through the hollow body and extended outside the top portion and a threading portion of the hollow body.

In one aspect the first lift cord is fastened to the top of the hollow body and extended upwards.

In another aspect the hollow body has a top portion, a threading portion and an aperture which runs longitudinally through the hollow body.

By means of the construction set forth above, by installing at one end of the upper rail of the window covering, the first and second lift cords can be positioned to facilitate fast rolling or extension. Installation also is simpler. Selection of the lift cords is faster and more accurate. Through the hollow body the first and second lift cords are less likely to be entangled with each other.

The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the lift cord apparatus of a conventional window covering.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the lift cord apparatus of a conventional window covering in an entangled condition.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the lift cord apparatus of the invention in a retracting condition.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the lift cord apparatus of the invention in an extending condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Please refer to FIG. 3, the window covering lift cord apparatus according to the invention includes a lift cord means 10 installed at one end of an upper rail 21 of a window covering 20. The lift cord means 10 includes a first lift cord 12 and a second lift cord 13. The first lift cord 12 has one end 121 fastened to a top portion 111 of a tubular hollow body 11. The hollow body 11 has an aperture 113 to be threaded through by one end 131 of the second lift cord 13 which is extended outside through the top portion 111 and a threading portion 112 of the hollow body 11.

The first lift cord 12 can be formed with the hollow body 11 in an integrated manner and extended upwards from the top portion 111 thereof.

The hollow body 11 is a tubular object made from plastics or woven by fine filaments.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the lift cord means 10 may be used on various types of window coverings such as roman shades, Venetian blinds, pleated window coverings, and the like. The window covering 20 mainly includes the upper rail 21, a slat assembly 22 and a lower rail 23. The lift cord means 10 which includes the first lift cord 12 and second lift cord 13 is installed at one end of the upper rail 21. For installation, first, position the hollow body 11 with the top portion 111 facing the upper rail 21 and the threading portion 112 and aperture 113 remote from the upper rail 21; fasten the one end 121 of the first lift cord 12 to the top portion 111; and thread axially the one end 131 of the second lift cord 13 through the aperture 113 and extend outside the threading portion 112.

Thereby users can accurately select the first lift cord 12 and second lift cord 13 that connected to the slat assembly 22 to retract or extend rapidly.

In short, the lift cord means 10 of the invention has the following features and benefits:

1. Installation is simpler: To install the lift cord means 10 at one end of the window covering 20, prepare the hollow body 11; fasten the first lift cord 12 to the top portion of the hollow body; and thread the second lift cord 13 axially through the hollow body. The first and second lift cords 12 and 13 can be accurately and quickly selected without trial and error. It is more convenient in use.

2. Provide excellent positioning function: After the lift cord means 10 is installed at one end of the upper rail 21, and the window covering 20 has been installed on a door or window, the first and second lift cords 12 and 13 can be positioned properly to make selection easier. The first and second lift cords 12 and 13 also do not entangle with each other.

Thus by installing the lift cord means 10 of the invention on the window covering 20, selection of the correct lift cord is easier, and retraction and extension of the window covering 20 can be achieved faster to block sunshine. It also can be easily adapted to various types of window coverings. 

1. A window covering lift cord apparatus installed at an upper rail of a window covering comprising a first lift cord, a second lift cord and a hollow body which is fastened to one end of the first lift cord, the second lift cord running through the hollow body and being juxtaposed with the first lift cord.
 2. The window covering lift cord apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first lift cord is extended upwards from a top portion of the hollow body.
 3. The window covering lift cord apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hollow body is a duct.
 4. The window covering lift cord apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hollow body has an aperture to be threaded through by the second lift cord.
 5. The window covering lift cord apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second lift cord and the first lift cord oppose each other longitudinally. 